Lucius Junius Brutus

Lucius Junius Brutus (died 509 BC) was the founder of the Roman Republic and one of its first consuls in 509 BC. He overthrew the Etruscan monarchy and fought to defend the republic, dying in battle at the Battle of Silva Arsia that same year.

Biography
Lucius Junius Brutus was born in Rome, the grandson of the Etruscan king Lucius Tarquinius Priscus and the nephew of Lucius Tarquinius Superbus (Tarquin). Junius became a rival of Tarquin after Tarquin had several Roman leaders - including Junius' brother - executed, and Junius feigned stupidity (hence his nickname "Brutus") in order to survive the persecution. Junius later accompanied Tarquin's sons on a trip to Delphi, where the Oracle told them that the first among them to kiss their mother would hold supreme sway in Rome. Junius believed that this was referring to Gaia, Mother Nature, so he pretended to trip and kissed the ground.

In 509 BC, the noblewoman Lucretia, a kinswoman of Junius, summoned him, Spurius Lucretius Tricipitinus, Publius Valerius Publicola, and Lucius Tarquinius Collatinus to her in Collatia after she was raped by Tarquin's son Sextus Tarquinius, and Lucretia told them of the rape before stabbing herself dead to reclaim her honor. Junius pulled the dagger from her and immediately called for Tarquin's overthrow. The four men gathered the youth of Collatia, and they went to Rome, where the people voted for the deposition of the king and the banishment of the royal family. Junius left Lucretius in command of the city, and he took command of the army at Ardea. He had the people swear an oath to never again allow for any man to be king in Rome, and he and Lucretia's husband Tarqinius Collatinus were elected the nascent Roman Republic's first consuls.

Tarquin attempted to return to power shortly after his expulsion from power, recruiting several prominent Roman politicians and nobles into a conspiracy against the Republic. Junius gained respect by stoically watching as his own sons were executed for taking part in the conspiracy, and he removed Collatinus from power for his lack of action, replacing him with Publius Valerius Publicola. Soon after, Tarquin led an army of Etruscans from Tarquinii and Veii in an attempt to reconquer Rome, but they met Junius' army at the Battle of Silva Arsia. During the battle, Junius' cousin Aruns Tarquinius, in command of the Etruscan cavalry, singled out Junius and charged into battle with him. Junius and Aruns speared each other to death, and, after Junius' death, the Romans went on to win the battle and defend the new Republic. Valerius held a magnificent funeral in Junius' honor while celebrating his triumph.